^9J 


UC-NRLF 


$B    22    D3fl 


The  First  Year  and  a  Look  Ahead 

What  the  National  Popular  Government  League  did 
in  1914.     What  should  be  done  in  1915 


By 

JUDSON  KING 

Executive  Secretary 


REPORT 

to  the  Second  National  Conference  on  Popular  Govern- 
ment at  the  Willard  Hotel,  Washington,  D.  C. 
January  4th  and  5th,  1915 


THE  NATIONAL  POPULAR  GOVERNMENT  LEAGUE 
1017  Munsey  Building,  Washington,  D.  C. 


^^'^-" 


Why  the  National  Popular  Government 
League  Was  Organized 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  formation  of  the  National  Popu- 
lar Government  League  may  be  briefly  stated. 

Organized  effort  to  secure  the  Initiative,  Referendum  and 
Recall  had  been  going  on  for  some  twenty  years.  Many  state 
leagues  had  been  started,  several  of  which  were  dead  or  inactive. 
Two  national  organizations  had  successively  ceased  to  exist. 
Some  twelve  state  leagues  were  in  existence  in  varied  stages  of 
vigor  and  efficiency.  Nearly  all  farm  and  labor  organizations 
were  in  favor  of  these  principles;  some  were  doing  things, 
others  not.  But  the  movement  at  the  time  the  National  Popular 
Government  League  was  formed  was  entirely  sporadic,  localized, 
and  without  co-ordination. 

FIRST:  There  was  no  national  ''Clearing  House  of  Informa- 
tion" whose  business  it  was  to  collect  and  distribute  accurate 
data  concerning  the  statics  and  practical  workings  of  popular 
government  measures,  thus  enabling  the  workers  in  every  state 
and  city  to  take  advantage  of  the  failures  and  successes  of  every 
■other  state  and  city. 

SECOND:  There  was  no  central  bureau  of  recognised 
authority  to  which  a  legislator,  or  a  person  drafting  a  measure, 
could  apply  for  the  most  effective  and  approved  forms  of  amend- 
ments and  laws  embodying  these  principles. 

THIRD:  The  special  interests  and  the  reactionary  press  were 
conducting  a  subtle,  powerful  nation-wide  campaign  of  misrep- 
resentation upon  these  measures.  Their  lobbyists  and  tricky 
politicians  ivere  at  work  at  every  state  legislature  and  charter 
commission  where  these  measures  tvere  pending.  Result. 
"Jokers"  which  rendered  the  Initiative,  Referendum  and  Recall 
defective  or  worthless  in  one-half  of  the  states  and  one-half  of 
the  cities  zvhich  had  them. 

FOURTH :  There  zvas  no  national  organisation  to  zvhich  local 
leagues  could  apply  for  apt  literature,  able  speakers,  expert 
counsel,  or  effective  help  in  conducting  their  struggles.  Many 
campaigns  have  been  lost  for  the  lack  of  such  aid,  to  say  nothing 
^of  thousands  of  dollars  zuasted  in  amateurish,  misguided  effort. 


FIFTH:  At  the  time  the  League  was  proposed  the  whole 
movement  zvas  drifting.  Its  friends  mistaking  nominal  success 
for  real  achievement  had  relaxed  their  efforts,  thinking  the 
movement  would  go  on  by  its  ozvn  momentum.  At  this  very  time 
its  enemies  were  beginning  their  real  campaign  against  it.  Where 
these  measures  could  not  be  defeated  ^outright,  they  were  being 
emasculated  by  ingenuous  jokers. 

On  April  28,  1-913,  IVm.  S.  U'Ren,  of  Oregon,  wrote: 

It  is  of  very  great  importance  that  zue  have  a  national  organiza- 
tion to  help  and  strengthen  the  work  in-  the  different  states.  At 
the  present  time  the  reactionaries  are  getting  the  best  of  the 
fight  for  direct  legislation  nearly  all  along  the  line.  The  enemy 
is  thoroughly  awake  and  fighting  nozv,  and  it  is  bound  to  be 
harder  to  make  progress  from  this  time  on  than  it  was  before  the 
Special  Interests  realized  ivhat  the  people  could  do  zvith  the 
Initiative  and  Referendum. 

But  there  was  no  general  understanding  of  the  real  situation 
and  there  was  no  organized  force  capable  of  combating  the  clever 
efforts  being  made  to  destroy  the  popular  government  movement. 

Xevertheless,  it  was  on  all  hands  conceded  that  the  Initiative 
and  Referendum  was  the  most  practical  reform  of  this  genera- 
tion. With  these  facts  in  mind,  the  founders  of  the  League  felt 
justified  in  promoting  its  organization. 

Accordingly  the  first  national  conference  on  popular  govern- 
ment ever  held  in  this  country  was  called  and  the  meeting  took 
place  at  Washington,  D.  C,  December  6,  1913,  at  which  time 
the  League  was  organized. 

The  plan  of  the  Organization  is  exceedingly  simple.  Indi- 
vidual memberships  are  held  direct.  Little  or  no  effort  has  been 
made  to  organize  state  or  local  branches,  and  thus  exhaust  the 
energ\'  of  the  League  upon  machinery.  The  main  idea  has  been 
to  secure  the  cooperation  of  organizations  now  in  existence 
which  are  proponents  of  our  principles. 

At  the  conference  at  which  the  League  was  organized  there 
were  represent.  The — 

American  Federation  of  Labor, 

National  Conference  of  Progressive  State  Granges, 

Direct  Legislation  League  of  California, 

Direct  Legislation  League  of  Colorado, 

Direct  Legislation  League  of  AIaryland, 

Initiative  and  Referendum  League  of  Illinois. 


424414 


•  -  •    •• 


Massachuse:tts  Direct  Legisi^ation  League, 
Nebraska  Voter's  League, 
New  Hampshire  Direct  Legislation  League. 
People's  Power  League  of  Montana, 
People's  Power  League  of  Oklahoma, 
Referendum  League  of  Delaware. 

THE  FIRST  YEAR'S  WORK 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  first  year's  work.  Xeces- 
sarily  a  large  number  of  activities,  requiring  much  expenditure 
of  time  and  energy,  must  be  omitted. 

Directly  as  a  result  of  the  first  conference,  The  Popular  Gov- 
ernment League  of  Missouri  and  The  People's  Rule  League  of 
Mississippi  have  been  organized',  both  of  which  have  joined  us. 

At  the  Seattle  convention  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Labor,  held  December  10,  1913,  the  convention  endorsed  the 
action  of  its  president  and  officers  in  taking  part  in  the  organi- 
zation of  our  League  and  by  a  convention  resolution  affiliated 
with  us. 

On  January  23  and  24,  1914,  I  attended  the  biennial  conven- 
tion of  the  United  Mine  Workers  of  America  at  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  and  made  an  address.  As  a  result  the  United  Mine  Workers 
voted  to  cooperate  with  our  League. 

On  February  21  I  attended  the  annual  convention  of  the 
United  Mine  Workers  of  District  21  (including  Texas,  Arkansas, 
Oklahoma),  at  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  with  the  result  that  this  branch 
approved  the  action  of  the  national  convention  and  affiliated 
with  us. 

In  May  I  was  invited  to  address  the  state  convention  of  the 
Virginia  Federation  of  Labor  at  Norfolk.  This  organization 
also  voted  to  affiliate. 

There  have  also  during  the  past  year  voted  to  affiliate  with 
us,  The — 

Arkansas  State  Federation  of  Labor, 
Illinois  State  Federation  of  Labor, 
Ohio  State  Federation  of  Labor, 
Chicago  Federation  of  Labor, 
Cleveland  Federation  of  Labor, 
American  Flint  Glass  Workers'  Union, 
People's  Power  League  of  Oregon., 


Joint  Legislative  Committee;  representing  the  State 
Grange,  Farmers'  Union.  Federation  of  Labor  and 
Direct  Legislation  League  of  the  State  of  Washington. 

BUREAU  OF  INFORMATION 

If  the  friends  of  popular  government  in  attendance  here  or 
elsewhere  could  watch  for  a  single  week  the  correspondence 
coming  into  our  office,  they  would  not  only  be  interested  but 
would  have  a  much  keener  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  work 
our  Bureau  of  Information  is  doing. 

MODEL  L.4WS  AND  EXPERT  CRITICISM 

For  example:  Here  is  a  letter  received  January  1  from  the 
editor-in-chief  of  a  series  of  important  newspapers  and  maga- 
zines in  the  Northwest,  which  runs: 

Will  you  send  me  at  your  earliest  convenience  a  statement 
of  the  essentials  of  an  adequate  Recall  law.  .  .  .  Send  argu- 
ments on  the  general  subject  that  will  help.   .   .   .   There  is  a 

chance  of  getting  a  law  through  in  the  state  of  and  we 

want  to  see  that  the  law  is  copper-riveted.  .  .  .  Send  best  con- 
densed statement  for  the  commission  form  of  government  for 
cities,  its  origin,  variations,  and  the  strength  and  weakness  of 
various  sorts ;  also  refer  me  to  the  best  authorities  and  literature 
on  the  subject. 

From  members  of  city  charter  commissions,  members  of  legis- 
latures and  constitutional  conventions,  editors,  college  professors, 
labor  leaders,  farm  leaders,  and  active  agitators  and  workers  for 
our  measures,  come  written  requests  and  telegrams  for  model 
laws  and  information  of  many  sorts.  Frequently  laws  in  prepara- 
tion or  which  have  been  introduced  are  sent  to  us  with  a  request 
for  criticism. 

COLLEGE  STUDENTS 

A  very  encouraging  feature  of  the  work  is  the  demand  from 
university,  college  and  high  school  students  for  material  upon 
the  Initiative,  Referendum,  Recall,  etc.,  to  be  used  in  debates. 
Just  after  our  conference  last  year  I  prepared  an  eight-page 
bulletin  on  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  especially  for  the 
students  of  the  High  Schools  of  North  Carolina  for  use  in  a 
debate  which  was  held  in  the  high  schools  throughout  that  state 
last  spring.  Many  libraries  also  ask  for  our  material.  Accurate 
information  upon  the  actual  workings  of  direct  legislation  meas- 


ures  is  very  difficult  to  obtain  from  the  usual  sources  and  we  can 
do  a  very  important  educational  work  in  getting  the  truth  to 
these  debaters  and  the  libraries. 

BULLETINS 

During  the  course  of  the  year  I  have  found  time  to  compile 
and  issue  five  bulletins,  all  of  which  have  been  sent  to  our  mem- 
bers; namely: 

Bulletin  No.  1. — Shows  the  number  of  states  having  the 
Initiative  and  Referendum,  date  of  adoption,  the  popular  vote 
on  the  amendment  and  indicates  whether  the  amendment  is  good 
or  bad. 

Bulletin  No.  2. — Shows  the  number  of  measures  adopted 
and  rejected  in  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  states  at  the  elec- 
tion of  1912. 

Bulletin  No.  3. — Shows  from  the  election  returns  of  1912 
the  extent  to  which  the  voters  take  an  interest  and  voted  upon 
initiated  and  referred  measures.  For  example  a  general 
average  of  72  per  cent  of  the  voters  voted  upon  every  one  of  the 
measures  submitted  at  the  election,  82  per  cent  voted  upon  the 
most  important  ones. 

Bulletin  No.  4. — Contains  a  valuable  table  showing  the 
number  of  laws  submitted  in  each  state  having  the  Initiative  and 
Referendum  from  1898  to  1912,  inclusive,  and  contains  data 
showing  the  cost  of  securing  petitions. 

Bulletin  No.  5. — Gives  a  list  of  eight  states  having  the  state- 
wide Recall,  date  of  adoption,  popular  vote  and  the  character  of 
the  amendment. 

The  cold  election  facts  presented  in  these  bulletins  annihilate 
a  large  number  of  the  common  objections  raised  against  direct 
legislation  by  its  most  famous  opponents.  New  editions  of  these 
bulletins  will  shortly  be  issued  to  include  the  election  of  1914. 

THE  MISSOURI  DOCUMENT 

The  legislature  of  Missouri  in  1913  submitted  a  worthless  sub- 
stitute Initiative  and  Referendum  amendment  to  take  the  place  of 
the  good  one  in  operation.  It  was  one  of  the  most  cunningly  de- 
vised pieces  of  legislation  I  ever  examined.  A  very  fair  proposi- 
tion on  its  face,  careful  examination  revealed  a  large  number  of 
concealed  jokers  which  would  have  absolutely  destroyed  the  use 
of  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  in  Missouri.     At  the  request 


of  the  Missouri  Popular  Government  League  we  prepared  a 
pamphlet  which  showed  not  only  the  concealed  jokers  in  the 
Missouri  substitute,  but  exposed  the  attempts  being  made  to 
destroy  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  in  various  other  states. 
It  was  entitled:  "Shall  the  People  Be  Tricked  Out  of  Their 
Power  to  Rule?"  Ten  thousand  copies  of  this  pamphlet  were 
sent  to  the  Missouri  League  and  distributed.  The  counterfeit 
amendment  was  defeated,  and  I  am  pleased  to  report  that  the 
Missouri  leaders  have  written  to  us  that  our  assistance  was  of 
very  material  help  in  accomplishing  the  result. 

We  also  prepared  an  eight-page  pamphlet  which  will  be  of  use 
anywhere,  but  especially  designed  for  the  campaigns  then  on  for 
the  Initiative  and  Referendum  in  Mississippi  and  Wisconsin, 
where  amendments  were  pending  in  the  election.  It  is  entitled: 
''The  Initiative  and  Referendum?  What  They  Are;  Where  They 
Are  in  Use;  How  They  Work."  Several  thousands  of  these 
pamphlets  were  sent  to  each  state. 

In  addition  to  these  large  orders,  we  have  distributed  during 
the  past  year  over  15,000  pamphlets  to  individuals  all  over  the 
country  upon  request. 

UTER4TURE  ON  HAND 

W^e  have  available  for  distribution  at  the  present  time  many 
other  excellent  pamphlets,  a  partial  hst  of  which  is  as  follows: 
People's  Rule  vs.  Boss  Rule,  Senator  Robert  L.  Owen. 
Democracy  and  Efficiency,  Cong.  William  Kent. 
Machine-Made  Legislation,  Cong.  M.  Clyde  Kelly. 
Commission  Government  of  Cities,  Senator  Robert  L.  Owen. 
The  Short  Ballot,  Richard  S.  Childs. 
The  Story  of  Short  Ballot  Cities,  Richard  S.  Childs. 
Preferential  Voting  and  How  It  Works,  Reginald  Mott  Hull. 
The  Initiative  and  Referendum,,  Prof  Lewis  J.  Johnson. 
True  Progress,  Sentator  Henry  F.  Ashurst. 
A  N on-Partisan  Party,  Sentator  George  W.  Norris. 
Initiative  and  Referendum  in  Sivitzerland,  Hon.  Carl  S.  \>oo- 

man. 
The  Oregon  System,  Richard  A.  Montague. 
The  People's  Law,  Hon.  William  Jennings  Bryan. 
New  Dangers  to  Majority  Rule,  Judson  King. 
New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  Sentator  Miles  Poindexter. 
A  New  Constitution  for  the  State  of  Indiana,  Theo.  F.  Thieme. 
Initiative,  Referendum  and  Recall,   American   Federation   of 

Labor. 


8 
PRESS  WORK 

In  addition  to  writing  articles  for  newspapers  for  campaign 
purposes,  I  have  taken  time  to  write  other  articles  of  an  educa- 
tional nature.  For  example:  I  wrote  a  series  of  articles  on 
popular  government  measures  which  were  published  weekly  in 
the  National  Field,  which  is  the  official  organ  of  the  National 
Farmers'  Union,  and  reaches  thousands  of  progressive  farmers 
throughout  the  United  States. 

LEGISLATIVE  FIELD  WORK 

It  was  the  object  of  this  League  to  be  not  only  a  source  of 
accurate  information  and  expert  assistance  in  the  drafting  of 
statutes,  but  a  militant  force  in  securing  their  adoption.  As  I 
have  already  observed,  many  local  campaigns  fail  for  the  lack  of 
just  such  assistance  as  our  organization  ought  to  be  able  to 
render.  Considering  the  resources  at  our  command,  the  League 
has  a  very  creditable  record  for  its  first  year's  efforts : 

OHIO 

Immediately  after  our  organization  last  year,  we  were  drafted 
into  service  by  the  friends  of  democracy  in  Ohio,  who  were 
then  facing  a  threatened  destruction  of  their  Initiative  and  Ref- 
erendum amendment  secured  in  1912.  The  situation  was  this : 
The  special  interests  attempted  to  hold  up  by  referendum  two 
statutes  passed  by  the  legislature  of  1913.  Gross  frauds  in 
securing  these  petitions  were  revealed  and  the  reactionary  press 
immediately  began  a  tirade  against  the  Initiative  and  Refer- 
endum itself,  on  account  of  forged  signatures  placed  upon  the 
petitions  by  paid  circulators. 

A  demand  was  at  once  made  by  these  newspapers  and  some 
of  our  short-sighted  friends  for  a  law  absolutely  prohibiting  the 
circulation  of  petitions  for  pay,  thus  throwing  the  burden  of 
securing  petitions  upon  voluntary  effort  alone.  However  plaus- 
ible this  proposition  may  be  on  its  face,  every  man  familiar 
with  the  operation  of  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  knows  that 
it  would  be  fatal,  unless  percentages  are  lowered  very  materially 
from  the  present  requirements.  An  exhaustive  bulletin  covering 
this  whole  subject  was  prepared  and  sent  to  the  members  of 
the  Ohio  legislature  and  many  others.  The  aid  of  the  Scripps- 
McRae  newspapers  in  Ohio  was  secured,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
State  Federation  of  Labor,  etc.  I  was  invited  to  go  to  Columbus, 
which  I  did,  and  aided  in  drafting  a  bill  which  provided  heavy 
penalties  for  fraudulent  practices  in  securing  petitions. 


A  NEW  FEATURE 

A  feature,  entirely  new  to  bills  of  this  sort,  was  adopted  at  my 
suggestion,  which  I  think  of  considerable  importance.  As  a  rule 
initiated  measures  have  been  carefully  prepared  and  well  drafted. 
But  the  vague  fear,  especially  prevalent  in  the  East,  that  they 
may  not  be  well  drafted,  and  that  the  possibility  of  crude  drafts- 
manship exists,  has  been  held  as  an  argument  against  the  Initiative 
and  it  has  had  great  weight  with  many  honest  men.  To  meet  this 
difficulty  I  proposed: 

1.  That  the  Legislative  Reference  Bureau  of  the  State  be 
placed  at  the  service  of  the  citizens  as  well  as  members  of  the 
legislature.  That  those  initiating  a  measure  could  secure  the  aid 
of  the  director  of  the  bureau  in  preparing  it,  and  that  when  satis- 
factory as  to  form  and  draftsmanship,  the  director  should  so 
certify. 

2.  That  those  initiating  a  measure  may  submit  a  synopsis  of  the 
measure  to  the  Attorney-General.  If  the  synopsis  is  accurate, 
the  Attorney-General  so  certifies. 

Both  of  these  certified  statements  may  be  printed  at  the  head 
of  the  petition  and  the  busy  citizen  can  determine  at  a  glance 
whether  the  measure  presented  to  him  for  his  signature  has  been 
well  drafted  and  whether  the  solicitor  is  telling  him  the  truth 
as  to  its  contents. 

I  am  pleased  to  say  that  Governor  Cox,  when  he  fully  under- 
stood the  situation,  rendered  every  assistance  in  the  passage  of 
the  entire  statute  which  protects  the  Initiative  and  Referendum 
from  fraud,  but  which  saves  it  for  practical  use  by  honest 
citizens. 

ARKANSAS 

Arkansas  adopted  an  excellent  amendment  in  1910.  Since 
then  four  hostile  and  unwarranted  decisions  of  the  Supreme 
Court  have  practically  destroyed  the  effect  of  the  amendment.  A 
movement  was  on  foot  to  have  two  or  three  amendments  to  the 
amendment  initiated  which  would  correct  the  decisions  of  the 
court  and  restore  the  power  to  the  people.  On  the  occasion  of 
my  visit  to  Fort  Smith  to  address  the  United  Mine  Workers' 
Convention,  I  met  the  leaders  of  this  movement  and  strongly 
advised  them  not  to  attempt  to  tinker  with  the  old  amendment, 
but  to  initiate  an  entirely  new  system  which  would  embody  the 
results  of  our  experience  to  date.     This  plan,  I  am  pleased  to 


10 

say,  has  been  followed  and  the  Arkansas  State  Federation  of 
Labor  and  the  Farmers'  Union  are  now  circulating  a  new 
Initiative  and  Referendum  provision  which  was  prepared  in  our 
office  and  which  I  believe  the  best  yet  produced  in  this  country. 

MISSISSIPPI 

From  Arkansas  I  went  by  invitation  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  where 
an  Initiative  and  Referendum  amendment  had  been  introduced 
in  the  state  legislature.  Although  drafted  in  good  faith  by  a 
friend  of  the  movement,  upon  examination  it  proved  to  be  a 
practically  worthless  amendment.  Several  meetings  with  the 
friends  of  the  measure  in  both  houses  were  held  and  after  full 
consultation  the  original  resolution  was  withdrawn  and  a  new 
amendment  was  introduced.  I  remained  in  Jackson  two  weeks. 
The  amendment  passed  each  house  three  times  by  a  two-thirds 
vote,  as  required  by  the  constitution,  and  was  submitted  to  the 
people  at  the  last  election.  It  received  a  two-to-one  vote  upon 
the  proposition,  but  is  reported  to  have  failed  to  receive  a 
majority  of  all  votes  cast  in  the  election.  Its  fate,  however,  has 
not  been  decided.  It  was  submitted  under  very  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, and  if  I  had  had  $500  to  spend  on  this  campaign 
I  am  certain  that  the  amendment  would  have  passed  beyond 
question.  Mention  must  be  made  here  that  Senator  Owen,  in 
the  midst  of  a  stirring  campaign  in  his  own  state,  traveled  all 
the  way  to  Meridian,  Miss.,  at  his  own  expense  to  speak  for  this 
amendment. 

ST.  LOUIS  CHARTER 

Last  spring  when  the  new  charter  for  the  City  of  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  was  in  preparation  I  was  called  fnto  consultation  and 
was  able  to  effect  some  material  changes  for  the  betterment  of 
Initiative  and  Referendum  features.  When  the  campaign  was 
on  for  the  adoption  of  this  charter  I  was  appealed  to  by  the 
president  of  the  City  Club  to  defend  these  propositions,  which 
were  being  attacked  by  radicals  who  were  opposing  the  charter 
upon  the  grounds  that  the  Initiative,  Referendum  and  Recall 
features  were  so  defective  as  to  justify  the  defeat  of  the  charter. 
I  wrote  two  or  three  letters,  which  were  published  in  the  St. 
Louis  newspapers.  The  charter  was  adopted  by  a  very  small 
majority  and  there  are  several  letters  on  file  at  the  office  thank- 
ing the  National  Popular  Government  League  for  its  services 
in  that  campaign. 


11 

INDIANA 

I  have  made  two  trips  to  Indiana  at  the  request  of  local  leaders 
and  advised  with  them  as  to  the  best  methods  of  conducting  a 
campaign  for  a  new  constitution  in  that  state.  There  is  now 
going  on  a  lively  campaign  of  education  in  Indiana  conducted  by 
the  Indiana  Voter's  League,  under  the  leadership  of  its  presi- 
dent, Mr.  Theo.  F.  Thieme,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Time  does  not  permit  me  to  continue  this  description  of  field 
work  of  this  kind  done,  or  the  numerous  conferences  in  Wash- 
ington and  elsewhere  with  active  leaders,  at  which  campaigns 
have  been  planned,  the  fruits  of  which  we  shall  see  in  the  future. 
It  is  very  gratifying  to  know  that  young  as  we  are,  we  have 
already  become  known  throughout  the  country  as  a  central 
organization  which  can  give  the  information  and  the  practical 
help  needed  by  the  friends  of  fundamental  democracy. 

THE  ROGER  SULLIVAN  CAMPAIGN 

I  conclude  this  section  of  my  report  with  a  brief  reference 
to  the  campaign  made  by  the  League  in  the  state  of  Illinois  to 
defeat  the  aspirations  of  the  Hon.  Roger  C.  Sullivan  for  a  seat 
in  the  United  States  Senate.  We  announced  our  opposition  to 
both  Mr.  Penrose  and  Mr.  SulHvan,  but  our  campaign  activities 
were  limited  to  Illinois. 

Although  taking  part  in  such  campaigns  is  not  a  regular  part 
of  our  work,  it  seemed  to  its  officers  that  Mr.  Sullivan  was  so 
conspicuous  in  the  nation's  eye  as  a  political  boss  and  had  been 
so  bitter  in  his  opposition  to  the  Initiative  and  Referendum,  the 
Direct  Primary,  and  any  other  form  of  popular  government,  that 
his  election  would  be  a  severe  blow  to  our  cause.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  enter  actively  into  the  campaign  in  opposition.  This 
proposal  was  submitted  to  the  officers  and  members  of  the 
League  and  received  unanimous  approval  with  one  exception. 

After  considering  the  fact  that  Senator  Sherman  also  had 
fought  the  Direct  Primary  and  the  Initiative  and  Referendum 
as  well  as  Mr.  Sullivan,  and  that  Mr.  Raymond  Robbins  had 
distinguished  himself  by  active  service  in  behalf  of  these  princi- 
ples for  many  years,  the  League  voted  upon  a  second  referendum 
and  declared  in  favor  of  Mr.  Robins. 

On  October  the  8th,  I  went  to  Chicago,  and  opened  up  head- 
quarters for  the  League  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  Democratic  Raymond  Robins  League,  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  Walter  Niebuhr,  of  Lincoln,  editor  of  the 


12 

Courier-Herald.  Several  thousand  copies  of  literature  were 
distributed  from  this  office  through  the  state.  Senator  Owen 
made  a  very  vigorous  campaign  of  four  days,  in  which  he  spoke 
to  large  audiences  in  several  counties.  Congressman  James 
Manahan  spent  five  days  in  the  state  speaking  for  Mr.  Robins. 
Hon.  Carl  Vrooman  also  made  several  vigorous  speeches  down 
state  and  in  Chicago  in  support  of  Mr.  Robins.  I  spoke  in 
several  counties  in  different  sections  of  the  state  in  addition  to 
the  work  done  at  headquarters.  ^Ir.  Robins  was  not  elected  but 
Mr.  Sullivan  was  defeated.  It  is  estimated  that  not  less  than 
100,000  progressive  Democrats  revolted  at  the  corrupt  political 
system  for  which  Mr.  Sullivan  stands,  jumped  the  party  fence 
and  voted  for  Mr.  Robins. 

THE   FEDERAL    LAW    FOR    PUBLICITY    OF    CAMPAIGN    FUNDS 

Knowing  the  worthlessness  of  the  present  Federal  laws  for 
publicity  of  contributions  to  and  expenditures  of  campaign  funds, 
we  did  our  best  to  secure  the  adoption  by  this  Congress  of  an 
adequate  publicity  law  prior  to  the  election  so  that  the  people 
of  the  country  could  have  some  adequate  notion  of  the  amounts 
extended  in  the  election  of  November  3.  A  somewhat  vigorous 
letter  sent  to  the  members  of  the  House  on  July  8  resulted  in 
several  important  changes  being  made  in  a  publicity  bill  then 
pending.  As  a  result  of  a  series  of  conferences,  several  sug- 
gestions were  sent  to  the  Senate  committee  when  the  bill  reached 
that  body,  all  of  which  were  adopted.  But  the  bill  has  not  yet 
come  to  a  vote. 

It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  this  action  was  delayed,  for 
I  am  firmly  convinced  that  if  this  law  had  passed  in  time  to  take 
effect  at  this  last  election,  the  results  would  have  been  different 
in  many  states. 

A  LOOK  AHEAD 

The  character  and  strength  of  the  opposition  to  the  progress 
of  popular  government — which  opposition  is  believed  by  many 
to  be  secretly  organized — has  already  been  presented.  The  reac- 
tionary press  is  stating  in  big  headlines  now  that  the  derhand  for 
the  Initiative  and  Referendum  is  dying  out  and  pointing  to  the 
outright  defeat  of  amendments  in  Wisconsin  and  Texas  and  the 
failure  of  amendments  to  pass  in  Missouri  and  Alississippi  at 
the  last  election  as  proof  of  their  contention. 


13 

I  am  not  disturbed  over  this  sort  of  thing,  but  the  dangerous 
portion  of  this  wide-spread  campaign  on  the  part  of  the  reac- 
tionary' press  Hes  in  the  articles  and  editorials — and  they  are 
numberless — ridiculing  the  principles  of  direct  legislation  because 
in  one  or  two  states  a  large  number  of  questions  were  submitted, 
drawing  unwarranted  lessons  ^om  the  experience  of  the  last 
election  and  advocating  restrictions  and  safeguards  which  we 
know,  but  the  uninformed  do  not  know,  would  be  destructive. 

The  prejudice  thus  created  is  sure  to  crop  up  in  the  legisla- 
tive sessions  which  are  now  on  and  in  the  future  lead  to  serious 
results  if  the  attacks  are  not  promptly  met  by  this  League. 

I  will  now  give  a  rapid  survey  of  the  situation  which  presents 
itself  in  different  states  at  the  present  time. 

Michigan. — The  legislature  now  sitting  will  pass  an  enabling 
act  to  facilitate  the  operation  of  the  amendment  adopted  in  1913. 
The  experience  of  the  state  of  Washington  has  shown  us  that 
it  is  quite  as  easy  to  put  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  out  of 
business  by  a  restrictive  enabling  act  as  it  is  to  place  jokers  in 
the  original  amendment. 

Iowa. — An  atrocious  amendment  passed  the  legislature  of 
1913.  It  requires  another  submission  before  going  to  a  vote. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  legislature  will  reject  the  worthless  amend- 
ment now  presented  to  them  and  pass  on  a  good  one  to  the  legis- 
lature of  1917.  There  is  no  direct  legislation  league  organized 
in  Iowa  and,  as  far  as  I  know,  no  organized  body  capable  of 
dealing  with  the  situation. 

IC\xsAS. — The  Initiative  and  Referendum  will  come  before 
the  legislature  of  this  state.  Friends  of  the  Initiative  and  Refer- 
endum have  thus  far  given  very  little  attention  to  the  technique 
of  amendments  and  there  is  vers-  great  need  of  a  state  league 
to  lead  the  fight  for  workable  propositions. 

Idaho. — Several  of  our  friends  in  Idaho  are  attempting  to 
secure  the  submission  of  a  real  amendment  to  take  the  place  of 
the  worthless  one  recently  adopted. 

^IiNNESOTA. — Governor-elect  of  Minnesota  has  announced 
that  he  will  urge  the  resubmission  of  the  Initiative  and  Referen- 
dum in  that  state.  There  is  an  opportunity  for  material  service 
here.  A  chief  cause  for  the  defeat  of  the  amendment  submitted 
at  the  last  election  was  its  very  defective  character.  Many  pow- 
erful friends  of  direct  legislation  refused  to  work  for  it.  But  ^1 
regret   to   report   that   Governor   Hammond's   recommendations, 


14 

if  followed  out,  will  prove  far  more  disastrous  than  the  defective 
amendment  just  defeated.     He  is  urging  the  Utah  plan. 

OkIvAHOMA. — Undoubtedly  an  entirely  new  Initiative  and  Ref- 
erendum measure  will  be  proposed  in  the  legislature  of  Okla- 
homa to  take  the  place  of  the  one  now  in  force  which  has 
proven  so  defective  and  expensive  to  the  state.  The  Governor 
has  announced  that  he  will  recommend  the  Preferential  Primary 
Ballot  Law,  and  this  question  is  to  be  thrashed  out  with  excellent 
prospects  of  being  adopted  in  effective  form. 

New  York. — The  newly  elected  constitutional  convention  in 
New  York  will  soon  be  in  session,  and  although  there  is  little 
hope  that  anything  progressive  will  come  out  of  it,  there  will 
be  good  opportunity  for  placing  the  truth  regarding  popular 
government  in  operation  before  the  delegates  of  this  convention. 
We  have  several  letters  with  a  request  for  help  of  this  sort. 

I1.UN01S. — The  failure  to  secure  the  Initiative  and  Referendum 
and  other  progressive  features  to  the  constitution  of  this  state 
has  resulted  in  the  demand  for  a  general  revision  of  the  state 
constitution.  It  is  probable  thaat  the  present  legislature  will 
submit  the  question. 

Indiana. — An  active  campaign  to  secure  the  revision  of  the 
constitution  is  being  made  by  the  Indiana  Voters'  League.  Due 
to  the  reactionary  press  the  people  of  Indiana  know  but  very 
little  concerning  the  operation  of  popular  government  measures 
and  their  value. 

Massachusetts. — The  Initiative  and  Referendum  will  be 
brought  before  the  legislature  again. 

Maryland. — There  will  be  an  active  campaign  from  now  until 
next  election  conducted  by  the  Maryland  Direct  Legislation 
League  in  favor  of  the  Referendum  amendment  now  pending. 

Other  States. — Reports  from  California,  Oregon,  Colorado 
and  other  states  indicate  that  not  only  the  Initiative  and  Refer- 
endum but  the  Direct  Primary  laws  and  other  measures  giving 
power  to  the  people  will  be  attacked  very  severely  by  the  reac- 
tionaries this  year.  Constructive  legislation  of  this  sort  will  be 
proposed  in  many  other  states  which  I  shall  not  take  time  to  men  - 
tion.  In  addition  we  must  remember  that  the  movement  for 
Home  Rule,  Municipal  Affairs,  Commission  Form  of  Govern- 
ment and  Direct  Legislation  provisions  therewith  is  going  rapidly 
forward  and  our  Information  Bureau  will  be  taxed  for  demands 
from  these  sources. 


15 

NATIONAL  LEGISLATION 

The  campaign  for  the  enactment  of  an  effective  Federal  Cor- 
rupt Practices  Act  should  be  carried  forward.  The  constructive 
suggestions  made  at  this  conference  and  other  material  relating 
to  the  subject  should  be  carefully  prepared  for  the  use  of  the 
incoming  Congress  and  for  our  friends  throughout  the  country. 

At  our  last  convention  marked  attention  was  given  to  the  sub- 
ject of  the  Gateway  amendment  which  will  provide  an  easier 
method  of  amending  the  Federal  Constitution.  A  campaign  of 
education  is  necessary  before  this  idea  can  be  made  a  practical 
political  issue.  For  lack  of  time  and  money  I  have  been  unable 
to  push  this  very  essential  part  of  our  program.  An  amend- 
ment initiated  by  Senator  Cummins  providing  for  the  direct 
initiative  of  the  people  upon  the  amendment  to  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution was  reported  favorably  by  a  sub-committee  of  the  Judi- 
ciary Committee  of  the  Senate  after  having  been  mutilated  be- 
yond semblance  of  value.  The  Judiciary  Committee  rejected  the 
recommendations  of  the  sub-committee.  However,  a  start  has 
been  made  bringing  the  attention  of  Congress  to  this  important 
matter. 

THINGS  TO  BE  DONE 

A  single  mistake  in  drafting  the  Initiative  and  Referendum 
provisions  of  the  Oklahoma  system  has  cost  that  state  five  spe- 
cial elections  at  an  expense  of  at  least  $500,000  to  say  nothing  of 
the  expense  to  its  citizens  from  the  failure  of  good  laws  to  pass 
on  account  of  the  infamous  ''majority"  joker.  For  example:  The 
Torrens  Land  Title  System  which  should  have  been  in  opera- 
tion, having  been  adopted  in  1908  by  a  large  majority  of  those 
voting  on  the  question,  but  which  failed  of  adoption  because  it 
did  not  receive  a  majority  of  "all  votes  cast"  in  the  election.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  estimate  the  loss  to  the  people  of  the  states 
and  cities  which  now  have  direct  legislation  through  jokers  of  this 
sort,  but  the  greatest  defect  lies  in  the  discredit  heaped  upon  pop- 
ular government  because  of  failure  through  causes  the  public 
does  not  understand.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  from  every 
point  of  view,  of  high  value  to  effectively  continue  the  work  which 
this  league  has  set  out  to  do. 

BETTER  OFFICE  EQUIPMENT 

If  we  are  to  do  our  part  in  this  work  effectively  and  efficiently 
we  must  have  a  better  equipment  and  our  facilities  for  gathering 


16 

and  distributing  information  must  be  increased.  We  have  a  fair 
clearing  house  for  information  upon  direct  legislation  but  there 
is  no  place  in  this  country  where  a  legislator  can  go  to  get  ade- 
quate information  and  a  summary  of  the  results  of  the  Direct 
Primary;  nowhere  can  he  secure  a  model  Direct  Primary  law. 
We  do  not  have  one  at  our  office  today.  I  do  not  know  where 
one  exists  nor  have  I  been  able  to  find  one  by  diligent  inquiry. 
Yet,  I  have  constant  demands  for  a  model  Direct  Primary  law 
and  just  at  this  time  this  item  is  badly  needed. 

NEW  LITERATURE  NEEDED 

Our  limited  funds  renders  it  difficult  for  us  to  keep  in  touch 
with  the  practical  workings  of  popular  government  measures  as 
promptly  and  intimately  as  we  desire  in  every  section  of  the 
country.  Hence  we  urge  our  friends  to  write  us  on  their  own 
initiative  and  to  send  copies  of  newspaper  clippings  and  pam- 
phlets, election  returns,  etc.,  without  being  especially  requested  to 
do  so.  Such  information  is  of  great  value,  and  demands  are 
being  made  constantly  upon  us  in  this  direction. 

Also  our  library  of  reference  is  incomplete  and  our  friends 
who  have  books  relating  to  politics  and  the  problems  of  govern- 
ment which  they  can  readily  spare  can  render  us  a  material  serv- 
ice by  contributing  them  to  the  library  of  the  Bureau  of  Infor- 
mation. 

I  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  our  enemies  are  busy. 
During  the  last  few  months  books  have  been  printed  against  us 
written  by  President  Lowell  of  Harvard  University,  Professor 
Taft  of  Yale  University,  Senator  Root,  former  Attorney  General 
Wickersham,  and  others.  These  books  are  being  placed  in  our 
universities,  colleges  and  .libraries  and  because  of  the  eminence 
of  the  authors  are  being  quoted  as  authorities  by  teachers  of 
political  science.  The  only  book  upon  the  Swiss  experience  is, 
"The  Referendum  in  Switzerland,"  by  Deploige,  written  in  Bel- 
gium in  1890,  translated  into  English  and  is  used  in  this  country 
as  a  standard  work  upon  Switzerland.  It  is  biased,  untrust- 
worthy, a  book  I  found  laughed  at  in  Switzerland,  yet  it  is  used 
as  an  authority  in  this  country. 

On  the  other  hand  a  most  trustworthy  and  scholarly  book  upon 
the  Swiss  experience  written  by  a  Swiss  statesman,  Mr.  Theo- 
dore Curti,  now  editor  of  the  Frankfurter  Zeitung,  the  greatest 
newspaper  in  Europe,  is  not  available  in  English.  Mr.  Curti  has 
given  me  permission  to  have  this  book  brought  out  in  America 


17 

but  I  have  not  been  able  to  do  it  on  account  of  the  expense  ol 
translation,  etc.  It  would  also  be  a  most  valuable  thing  for  our 
cause  at  this  time  to  issue  a  book  of  about  250  pages  upon,  say, 
"The  Initiative  and  Referendum  in  the  United  States  to  1915." 

LITERATURE  FOR  LIBRARIES  AND  SCHOOLS 

In  this  connection  I  wish  to  express  my  very  great  desire  to  be 
able  to  furnish  to  the  universities,  colleges  and  teachers  of  polit- 
ical science  and  civics  throughout  the  nation  facts  regarding  the 
theory  and  actual  operation  of  direct  legislation  and  similar 
measures.  We  ought  to  have  a  small  inexpensive  paper  published 
every  month  which  would  keep  abreast  of  the  happenings  of  the 
time  and  in  some  small  measure  at  least  to  offset  among  thinking 
people  the  misrepresentations  of  the  reactionary  newspapers  and 
magazines,  and  we  ought  to  have  money  enough  to  publish  the 
results  of  our  last  conference  and  a  report  of  this  one. 

AN  INTERNATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

We  have  received  from  th^  directors  of  the  Panama- Pacific 
Exposition  in  San  Francisco  several  requests  to  hold  our  next 
conference  at  San  Francisco.  It  is  for  you  to  determine  whether 
this  should  be  done. 

Prior  to  the  outbreak  of  the  European  War  I  had  hoped  that 
we  might  hold  our  national  convention  and  an  international  con- 
vention on  popular  government  to  be  addressed  by  leading  expo- 
nents of  democracy  from  the  great  nations  of  the  world  so  that  we 
might  take  stock  of  the  status  and  tendency  of  democracy  at  the 
beginning  of  the  twentieth  century.  It  occurs  to  me  that  a 
volume  of  addresses  of  this  sort  would  prove  inspiring  especially 
if  each  speaker  should  tell  the  particular  form  which  the  struggle 
for  self-government  takes  in  his  country.  Probably  on  account 
of  the  war  it  would  be  difficult  to  hold  such  an  international  con- 
ference. 

SHALL  WE  HAVE  A  BOOTH  AT  THE  EXPOSITION? 

However,  I  desire  to  have  you  earnestly  consider  the  advisa- 
bility of  having  this  league  establish  and  maintain  a  popular 
government  exhibit  at  the  exposition  similar  to,  but  more  com- 
plete than  the  one  which  we  have  been  able  to  make  here,  and 
to  have  a  booth  where  our  literature  could  be  placed  for  inspec- 
tion and  distribution.  I  can  think  of  no  way  in  which  money 
could  be  spent  for  educational  purposes  to  any  greater  ad- 
vantage. 


18 
FINANCE 

From  July  9,  1913,  to  December  31,  1914,  eighteen  months, 
which  includes  the'  period  during  which  the  league  was  being  or- 
ganized up  to  December  6,  1913,  and  its  operation  since,  our 
total  gross  receipts  as  shown  by  the  boojcs  have  been  $5,459.99 
and  -our  disbursements  have  been  $5,457.12  leaving  a  balance  in 
the  bank  of  $2.87,  with  the  January  and  other  obligations  yet  to 
be  paid. 

To  carry  on  the  work  for  the  coming  year  there  should  be  pro- 
vided a  guaranteed  Working  Fund  of  at  least  $10,000.  Much 
more  than  this  is  needed  and  can  be  used  to  good  advantage,  but 
this  amount  is  necessary  to  afford  a  firm  basis  for  the  work  and 
permit  those  engaged  in  its  active  prosecution  to  give  their  ener- 
gies without  continuous  worry  and  embarrassment. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

JuDSON  King, 
J.  Executive  Secretary. 


19 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

National  Popular  Government  League 

July  p,  1913,  to  December  31,  1^14 

Receipts 

Memberships  and  contributions $4,449.00 

Loans   400.00 

Pamphlets,  sale  on  .  .  .  , 235.15 

Refund  D.  A.  R.  on  deposit  of  $150.00 83.65 

Miscellaneous  receipts 292.19 

Salary — ^Judson  King 

Traveling  expenses — Judson  King 

Salary — stenographer 

Salary — extra  clerical  help 

Rent    

Equipment   

Telephone  and  Telegraph 

Postage 

Deposit  on  hall  (D.  A.  R.)   

Miscellaneous  expenditures 

Loans  returned 

Books,  pamphlets,  speeches,  etc 

Stationery  and  printing 

Mississippi  campaign — Mott   

Balance  in  bank,  December  31,  1914 


Disburse- 
ments 


$1,430.00 
799.35 
726.00 
190.00 

•  420.00 
158.80 
205.32 
189.00 
150.00 
268.85 
233.65 
286.55 
383.60 
66.00 
2.87 


$5,459.99  $5,459.99 


.«  IS  DU^N  THE  LAST  PATE 
^HIS  BOOK  IS  DU^  ^  ^_ 

BOO.S  not  «tu»ea  »,«-  |I    £"-§0^ no? | 

?o%f^o'pt-^>g,»rr.p^-»-^:::^ 


MAR  2l  1963 

RECEIVED 

MAR  2  6  1996 

CIRGULATION  DEI 


20nl-l.'22 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 
Syracuse.  N.  Y. 

PAT.  JAR.  21.  1908 


,^: 


r 


4244i4 


